Shrfu's announcement of his retirement from full time teaching was at the closing of instructor graduation ceremonies when he was presented an award from Roger Niez

on behalf of the Chi Arts Association instructors and student body. The award, a glass etched "Ba Gua" (Pa Kua) shaped trophy-plaque

from the students with the following inscription:

                                                                                      June 28, 2009

John Bracy interview by Ian Johnson

IAN JOHNSON (I.J.) : Why have you decided to retire from full-time teaching?

JOHN BRACY (JB):  By my stepping aside, it allows Roger Niez to develop as a master, and allows other instructors to advance to their potential. If Roger and other instructors are able to attain a master level of understanding it means that the art and the research that has gone into it over the past forty years has a greater chance of continuing.

When one teacher stays in the dominant/ director position too long, the junior instructors aren't able to reach their potential. You cannot become a master without training juniors to instructor level. In a sophisticated set of martial arts like the "internal," there are numerous problems to be solved. For example, what qualities are missing in a particular student, why is he or she unable to move or apply power properly?  Making nei chia chuan internal boxing work in real combat is one of the most challenging physical discipline problems. Mastery--and thus, continuing of the rarified internal tradition-- is attained through solving these types of puzzles. Every aspect of the discipline must be analyzed and corrections made. Only through that process of problem solving and dedication to others "getting it" is a master borne.

IJ: What are you changing about your teaching and training schedules now entering "partial retirement" ?

JB: First, I will have more time to travel and work on some of my interest and projects like my new on-line video training business. I also look forward to spending more time with our associated school in Miami. Two guys there (as well as two in our southern California group) are interested in, and training for, applying internal martial arts to MMA style competitions. It would be great to be able to validate the internal martial arts as a valid open fighting system, and be part of that. I also want to finish the final stages of my second book.

As for  teaching, I will still be helping out with training instructors how to teach at least for a while, and still involved in advanced Tai Chi, Taoist yoga and meditation classes. The guys still need help becoming fully effective teachers. The black sash instructors need guidance, and some guys here (along with the Miami group) are interested in applying the internal martial arts to MMA- Mixed martial art style fighting. I still have some important roles to play.

IJ: How do you feel this willl affect the quaility of future Hsing Chen students? 

In the short term, the relative lack of experience of some of the instructors will be evident, however, in the long term, the new instructors won't be able to develop if they don't get the chance to make mistakes and figure things out.

IJ:  What would you consider to be your greatest accomplishment as a master and coach?

JB: I believe that internal martial arts (which I believe was both an evolutionary and accidental event) [read article] evolved into an unique fighting style in the 1800s. It represents the ability to accomplish what is considered the epitome, yet the most cryptic of martial art principles: how one can be relaxed yet powerful.  It was my honor to help bring these "secrets"  to the west and be able in my lifetime to observe some of my students getting it. In many ways, some of these students are way ahead of where I was at their age and I think they will be much better than I was in my prime--they represent the next generation of true masters of the internal arts.

 IJ: How can someone grasp these "secrets" that you are talking about?

In this sense, "secrets" refer to the ability to merge spirit with physical. This is one of the most elusive and cryptic principles in the martial arts, but the great masters always referred to it within the context of the language they had available at the time. For example, one of the greatest masters, Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido, well documented for his uncanny abilities, one day  announced that he was going to reveal his secret to his advanced students. Those attending the scheduled lecture were full of anticipation about what the old master would reveal about the essence to true power. However, most left his lecture perplexed and confused. According to reports, Ueshiba's lecture did not include specifics on martial art technique, but on principles of shinto-mysticism.  Ueshiba was trying to convey essentials of inward development that affects the physical. Today scientists are providing ways to understand how the mind, attitude and emotions affect the physical and how it is impossible to master subtle and advanced principles without understanding the influence of mind, emotions and attitude as part of that matrix.

IJ: If someone wanted to master the link between mind and body, how would he or she go about it?

JB: First, by understanding the link between consciousness, attitude and power. Begin by reading  John Diamond or David Hawkins work.(Particularly Diamond's life Energy or Hawkins' Power vs. Force.)  Then, if they need more concrete (less anecdotal) information sources, they should become familiar with William Tiller (professor emeritus at Stanford University in Material Science) work and particularly his Science adventures in Real Magic [Link to some Diamond material ]  

IJ: On another note, it seems like that, in the Chinese martial art systems, instructors don't use rank system, why and how did you develop it?

JB: First, "rank" itself doesn't mean anything outside of the institution issuing it. Quality and depth of instruction (not necessarily "forms") are the only things that really matter. With that noted, students do better, and higher standards are achieved when clear demarkation points in training are specified. For example, students not only become qualified in the art they are specializing such as Ba Gua or Hsing Chen, but a rank requirement list ensures that qualification in other areas such as traditional Chinese medicine, philosophy are met.  A formal rank system creates an objective checklist and explains why our instructors are consistently more advanced than most others. 
IJ: Thank you and good luck.
JB:  My pleasure